Mirrors of Heaven or Worldly Theaters?

Venetian Nunneries and Their Music

Jonathan E. Glixon

The first large-scale study of musical activities at Venetian convents

Features unique consideration of the role of plainchant and bells in the context of Early Modern era Venetian nunneries

Includes appendices outlining inventories of ceremonial books and details on nunnery organs

Mirrors of Heaven or Worldly Theaters?

Venetian Nunneries and Their Music

Jonathan E. Glixon

Description

Mirrors of Heaven or Worldly Theaters? Venetian Nunneries and Their Music explores the dynamic role of music performance and patronage in the convents of Venice and its lagoon from the sixteenth century to the fall of Venice around 1800. Examining sacred music performed by the nuns themselves and by professional musicians they employed, author Jonathan E. Glixon considers the nuns as collective patrons, of both musical performances by professionals in their external churches-primarily for the annual feast of the patron saint, a notable attraction for both Venetians and foreign visitors-and of musical instruments, namely organs and bells. The book explores the rituals and accompanying music for the transitions in a nun's life, most importantly the ceremonies through which she moved from the outside world to the cloister, as well as liturgical music within the cloister, performed by the nuns themselves, from chant to simple polyphony, and the rare occasions where more elaborate music can be documented. Also considered are the teaching of music to both nuns and girls resident in convents as boarding students, and entertainment-musical and theatrical-by and for the nuns. Mirrors of Heaven, the first large-scale study of its kind, contains richly detailed appendices featuring a calendar of musical events at Venetian nunneries, details on nunnery organs, lists of teachers, and inventories of musical and ceremonial books, both manuscript and printed. A companion website supplements the book's musical examples with editions of complete musical works, which are brought to life with accompanying audio files.

Mirrors of Heaven or Worldly Theaters?

Venetian Nunneries and Their Music

Jonathan E. Glixon

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments Notes on Transcriptions, Terminology, and the Venetian Monetary System Abbreviations Chapter 1 Introduction: The Nuns of Venice and its Lagoon Chapter 2 Public Liturgy: Professional Male Musicians in the Exterior Church Chapter 3 Necessary Ornaments: Organs and Bells Chapter 4 Transitions: Clothing Ceremonies, Professions, Consecrations, and Funerals Chapter 5 Daily Offices and More: The Nuns in the Interior Church Chapter 6 The Porous Grate: Teaching Music in Church and Parlor Chapter 7 A Virtuous Recreation? Musical and Theatrical Entertainments for and by the Nuns Chapter 8 Conclusions and EpilogueBibliography Appendices Appendix 1: Documents Appendix 2: Brief Histories of the Nunneries of Venice and its Lagoon Appendix 3: A Calendar of Religious Observances at Venetian Nunneries Appendix 4: Religious Functions of Confraternities in Nunnery Churches Appendix 5: Organs in Venetian Nunnery Churches Appendix 6: References to Music at Monacations in Palade Veneta and the Gradenigo Diaries Appendix 7: Inventory of Versetti for Venetian nuns Appendix 8: Publications in Honor of Nuns (excluding monacations) Appendix 9: Liturgical Books, Rules, and Ordini for Venetian Nunneries Appendix 10: Mass Ordinaries in the San Lorenzo 1542 Processional Appendix 11: Teachers of Nuns and Educande Index

Mirrors of Heaven or Worldly Theaters?

Venetian Nunneries and Their Music

Jonathan E. Glixon

Author Information

Jonathan E. Glixon, Professor of Music, University of Kentucky

Jonathan E. Glixon is Professor of Musicology, University Research Professor, and Provost's Distinguished Service Professor at the University of Kentucky. He received his PhD in Musicology from Princeton, and has published two books with Oxford University Press: Honoring God and the City: Music at the Venetian Confraternities, 1260-1807 (2003), and, with Beth L. Glixon, Inventing the Business of Opera: The Impresario and His World in Seventeenth-Century Venice (2006).